Wednesday, July 22, 2015

This avant-garde type of play is by Tom Stoppard and
directed by the well-known actor/director, Darius Pierce. It will be presented one-time only at
Portland Center Stage in the Gerding Theatre, 128 NW 11th Ave., on Monday,
August 10th at 7 pm. Tickets are $25 and
50% of the proceeds go to PATA’s Valentine Fund. For more information, go to their site
at http://anonymoustheatre.org. (A couple of things you might want to keep
in mind: Since it is a one-time only
performance, tickets usually sell out, so get them early. Also, parking in this area of town can be a
real challenge, so best plan your time accordingly.)

This presentation is not a review of their show, since it is
done only once, so a review of the performance would be of no benefit
PR-wise. But it is an overview of their
company and the Co-founder, Darius Pierce (who, as mentioned, is also directing
this show). If you don’t know who Piece
is, you must be one of the few who has not witnessed his one-man show,
performed frequently at PCS, The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, a very
funny depiction of Christmas, as seen through the eyes of a department-store
elf.

This a very unique form of theatre, having things in common
with Improv, like Saturday Night Live or Second City, and guerrilla or street
theatre, in that it has a fresh and spontaneous feel. The cast is secret and meets separately with
the director to rehearse, which presents its own set of problems. According to Pierce, “…finding rehearsal
spaces is a constant challenge - because we can't meet where anyone else will
see who is there or know why we are there.
So, you end up having a lot of meetings in back rooms of coffee shops
and basements of homes…we have never run the show before, so all the details
need to be figured out and kept straight in advance." Marketing is also a tricky thing…because the
huge majority of the people involved in the show can't tell anyone or too
openly invite people!” (Hopefully this
article will aid the marketing angle.)

The process involves casting the play and rehearsing in
secret, as mentioned. Then they arrive
on the night of the show in street clothes and sit with the audience, where
they will, on cue, deliver their first lines, then proceed to the stage with
the rest of the cast members. This is
the first (and last) time the entire cast will meet to perform the play. They are now in their fourteenth year and,
being that they usually get full houses for their shows, must mean they are
doing something right.

Pierce’s inspiration for this type of presentation came from
his college years, as he and some friends were always looking for ways to break
down that “fourth wall” that separates actor from audience. As he explains, “…if an audience member has
read the play, they know almost literally as much about what is going to happen
that night as an actor in the show. And that develops an excitement and a
camaraderie…that rarely occurs elsewhere. Everyone feels they have a hand in
telling this story and creating the evening…that is practically impossible to
achieve under more traditional circumstances.”
Too true.

So, that begs the question, being that they only do it once
a year, the choice of play must be crucial.
What is the process? Pierce
explains,"…usually, we look for a comedy, good opportunities for men and women,
reasonably short entrances spread throughout the play…fairly simple
technically...and generally something not too obscure. It's nice for some of
the audience to have a frame of reference for our craziness! The cast is chosen from auditions! We have auditions every year. We do not have callbacks. We just cast from the initial reads."

One play, once a year?!
That’s got to be frustrating, spending all that time rehearsing and
creating a show, then only to do it once. But Pierce is philosophically about it, as he
says,"…I have never found it frustrating. I am sorry that more people can't see
it - but there's no way to do multiple performances! Perhaps actors have felt
that way in the past, but I think their frustration is more about performing in
a fantastic night of theater - then not being able to openly invite friends to
see them in it!"

But let’s see if an actor’s view is the same. Of course, the person will have to remain
nameless because I, and they, have been sworn to secrecy, but let’s get their
perspective. We will call the cast
member, “George Spelvin” (insider’s joke), just for the sake of a name. I put the same question to “George” about
being frustrated with doing only one performance and not telling anyone. “He” replied, "No, I think that is the
particular charm of it! It's like you
get to pull one over on your artistic family."

But that brings up the question, then how do you psyche
yourself up for such an experience?
“His” offbeat answer was, "My balls are the size of peanuts right now. It
is funny how we always strive for spontaneity onstage and this kind of project
gives you no choice but to be spontaneous, so I think looking at that
perspective brings things back down to earth a bit. Embracing the crazy is the way to tame
it...." Very insightful, I’d say.

And, finally, “George,” Why…what's the
"reward/perk" for you?

"I think it is kind of a privilege to do this! It's like a
kooky honor to be able to create some raw work with some fantastic (albeit unknown)
collaborators in front of an artistic community you love." Amen.

Darius was more than generous with his time and
insights. But, I had one last question
for him. Although the style of this type
of presentation is unique, I wondered if there was any other reason for
choosing to do it this way. His
reply, "…we wanted to challenge/force the actors to be fully in the moment, fully
open and present and listening - all of the things that we usually spend weeks
trying to get to. Certainly, there is a
lack of polish in an Anonymous show - but there are raw, exposed, brave
elements that are pushed front and center. Watching the actor's process -
hearing text for the first time, exploring relationships over the course of the
evening, discovering emotions and comedy - is completely fascinating. And at its best, some of the most real,
passionate, hilarious, impressive, memorable moments of theater I've seen. Also, we thought it would be crazy fun! And I think we were
right." Can’t argue with that.

As for this show, The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard,
I had the honor of directing it some years ago and it is a hoot. Stoppard is a playwright that loves to twist
things up, such as time, conventions and anything that reeks of normalcy. As Anonymous describes it: It’s about "…two feuding theater critics are
swept into the whodunit they were sent to review. In this hilarious spoof of
Agatha Christie-like melodramas, the dead body hidden under the sofa proves to
be just the beginning. As mists rise about isolated Muldoon Manor, everyone
becomes dangerously implicated in the lethal activities of an escaped madman. This evening of theatre also includes On the Porch One Crisp
Spring Morning by Alex Dremann. In this ten-minute curtain-opener that
premiered at the Humana Festival, a mother and daughter sip coffee on the porch
one gloriously crisp spring morning. And then try to kill each other."

I’ve seen one of their shows, The Crucible, as I had worked
with the young lady who played Abby, Madeleine Delaplane, and I have to admit
there is an electricity in the air, an excitement and immediacy to the
presentation that is usually not present when a show has a intense rehearsal
period with the whole cast and a run of several performances. And, not to forget, it is for a very good
cause, the Valentine Fund, which benefits artists that are in need.

As to my final thoughts, I believe Darius has a dream and he
is passionate about it. And, if you
remember the movie, Field of Dreams, then there is an adage in it professing
“if you build it, they will come.” And
they have, both artists and audiences, in hordes. Beware of standing in the way of a Dreamer,
as you just might get caught up in it yourself.
Brave on Darius, and Company!

I recommend seeing this presentation. If you do, please tell them Dennis sent you.

Who is Dennis Sparks?

It is only fair, I believe, to give you a little
background on myself, if you are going to be reading my reviews and will be
considering me a source to see plays.

To
begin with, most reviewers in the media have little or no practical experience
in the actual arts themselves.They may
have dabbled a bit in a play or film, at some point, but their main source for
reviewing, is experience in journalism, literature and other exposures to the
written word.This is not true in my
case.

Yes, I have had some experience in journalism, but my major focus for the past 40 years has been the performing arts. Most of it in the Pacific Northwest, as well as the Western New York area. I have worked backstage as a “techie” and onstage as an actor. I have been an Artistic Director of three companies and have been a Producer and founder of two. I have directed many shows and written a few stage plays, as well, some of which have been performed. I have taught drama to adults and Youth and have even written screenplays. And, yes, have written reviews for theatre and film for four weekly newspapers over the years, most recently, for the Vancouver Voice.

I share this information with you, not to be bragging, but for you to know that I am well-versed in all aspects of the performing arts. Thus, my opinions are based on a solid background in the field. I am a firm supporter of the Arts and the importance of it in our Society. But I am also an observer, an audience member, as well, of many shows. And, as such, am critical when I can sense that a performance or production is not at the top of their game. Therefore, I feel obligated to point out these “rooms for improvement” but I hope, in a constructive way.

Also, I do not want to discourage a viewer from seeing a show because I didn’t feel it was “up to snuff.” On the contrary, I want you to see it and form your own opinion. I just hope that I have given you some things to look at that are good and, perhaps, not so good. I encourage everyone to see plays. I promise you, at the very least, you will become a more well-rounded and aware person because of it. Through the eyes of artists, you will experience a world of possibilities. And, in possibilities, there is Hope. And couldn’t we all have just a little more of that in our World?!